Michael Portillo
Former Member of Parliament, and Cabinet Minister
Topics
Specific topics
Michael Denzil Xavier Portillo PC is a respected broadcaster and political thinker, and Cabinet Minister. He was also elected as a Member of Parliament in 1984.
Portillo worked as a junior minister under both Thatcher and John Major, before entering the bureau in 1992. Being a right winger, he was viewed as a potential opponent to Major during the 1995 Conservative leadership election, but he stayed faithful to him. Portillo contributed with several conservative politics while he served as Defence Secretary.
After losing the elections for Enfield Southgate in 1997, Portillo became more involved with the media turning to less conservative convictions in time. In 1999 he returned to the House of Commons as Minister of Economy in despite of the tense relationship with William Hague.
Portillo began moving away from politics since he became third in 2001 elections. He resigned from the House of Commons in 2005, and has since been involved in the media, mainly working as a host for countless of television and radio programmes.
Related speakers
Ana Palacio Vallelersundi
Vice-President of the World Bank (2006-2008), Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs (2002-2004)
Lucas Papademos
Former Prime Minister of Greece. Former Vice-President of the European Central Bank. Professor at Harvard University
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley
Vice President of the Board Middle East Policy Council, Diplomat in Residence, Oberlin College. Founder, Leadership Council for Women in National Security
José Manuel Durão Barroso
President of the European Commission (2004-2014). Prime Minister of Portugal (2002-2004)